Ghana face The Gambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday knowing they need a response after a disappointing opening-day defeat in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Black Stars lost 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire in their Group C opener and currently sit without a point, while The Gambia began their campaign with a 2-1 victory over Somalia.
The match kicks off at 16:00 GMT, with Ghana looking to use home advantage to get their qualifying campaign back on track.
Carlos Queiroz’s side will have to cope with the absence of several key players, including Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo and Thomas Partey.
Brandon Thomas-Asante is expected to lead the attack again, with Ernest Nuamah providing another attacking option.
At the back, Alexander Djiku will be expected to provide leadership as Ghana attempt to keep The Gambia from adding another three points to their tally.
Côte d’Ivoire target second win
Group leaders Côte d’Ivoire will also be in action on Tuesday when they host Somalia at the Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan.
The Elephants opened their campaign with a convincing victory over Ghana and currently share the top of the group with The Gambia on three points.
Hervé Renard’s side will be aiming to maintain their winning start against a Somalia team that lost 2-1 to The Gambia in their opening fixture.
Franck Kessié remains one of Côte d’Ivoire’s key figures in midfield, while Malick Yalcouyé impressed on his debut and will be among the players expected to contribute to the Elephants’ push for another victory.
The two Group C matches create contrasting situations at both ends of the table.
Ghana and Somalia are still searching for their first points, while Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia are looking to consolidate their positions at the top.
For Ghana, however, the equation is particularly clear.
After losing their opening qualifier, the Black Stars cannot afford another setback at home if they want to quickly close the gap on the early Group C leaders.
The Gambia will arrive in Accra with confidence after their opening victory and will look to make Ghana’s task even more difficult.